'Ask patients' plea on Shropshire healthcare proposals
More needs to be done to consult patients before major changes are made to how healthcare is delivered in Shropshire, it has been claimed.
Richard Chanter, co-chairman of the Shropshire Patient Group, said the views of the public were not being reflected in proposals put forward as part of the Future Fit project.
But officials at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust have insisted the public will have ample opportunities to have a say. They have also warned that the county's multi-million pound NHS deficit could spiral as high as £100 million within five years.
It comes after both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning groups deferred a decision on whether to back Future Fit's strategic outline case.
Under the current plans, one of the county's two accident and emergency units would close. One emergency centre would be based at either the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital or Telford's Princess Royal Hospital and both sites would have an urgent care centre for non-emergency care.
Speaking at a meeting of Shropshire CCG yesterday, Mr Chanter said: "I think it is a very good proposal but the plans have moved forward considerably and recently there have been no patient discussions at all. I think it is a shame and a big mistake that you have not used a patient voice."
Neil Nisbit, assistant chief executive and finance director of SaTH, said: "This strategic outline case is a presentation of a potential solution and from now on a tremendous amount of work needs to be done before the final document.
"We are looking for a level of support that we have found a solution and it is affordable but there can be changes and movement. There will be plenty of opportunity for people to become involved in discussions.
"The current NHS deficit in Shropshire is £30 million – if we do nothing then we estimate this will reach £100 million in five years time.
"The issue we are presented with is we are struggling to recruit so the only places we can do to get those staff is agency.
Consolidating our services is financially more effective and we will also be able to recruit and provide a safe and sustainable service."
